Community Involvement
Giving back means giving of ourselves.
The idea of putting others first comes naturally to us, from our clients to our neighbours - it's the right thing to do. You'll find us giving back in countless ways, rolling up our sleeves and pitching in to support the organizations that help this community thrive. We invite you to learn more about the educational, civic, social and philanthropic endeavors we support with our time, energy and expertise. If you'd like to be involved, please feel free to contact us to learn more about upcoming events.
“I'm very proud of the people of Raymond James and how we give back to our communities. And through the services of the Raymond James Canada Foundation we can also help our clients to turn their charitable giving into strategic philanthropy. We are very excited to be able to help Canadians in this way,”
says Paul Allison, Executive Chairman, Raymond James Ltd.
Raymond James Canada Foundation
This past October, our branch came together to create two teams to participate in the Sun Life Ride to Defeat Diabetes for JDRF. In doing so, we were able to raise about $7000 for this incredible cause. And, firm wide Raymond James was able to donate $50,000. It was a great event, and we look forward to participating in the years to come!
RJ Cares Month
In early June, more than 20 members from our branch gathered together both virtually and in person at our office in Toronto to attend a learning session with BridgeNorth. We were also joined by members from the Transitions team as well as Eric Saarvala, Executive Director, Raymond James Canada Foundation and Head of Corporate Sustainability.
BridgeNorth is a survivor-led organization that is committed to ending sexual exploitation in Canada. Our branch engaged in an hour-long learning session about the horrific realities of human trafficking crimes and the effects these crimes have on many families.
Through stories and statistics, our office was shattered with the tragedies that go on behind closed doors. About 97 per cent of sex trafficking victims are female, and 28 per cent of sex trafficking victims are underage. Additionally, 75 per cent of reported trafficking cases occur in the GTA. These all-too-real numbers show how those acts are happening right under our noses.
“Human trafficking takes place in plain sight across various industries and in everyday hotels, condominiums, and legitimate businesses. Human trafficking cases in Ontario have been reported and prosecuted in industries including massage services, body rub parlours, holistic health services, restaurants, cleaning services, construction, factories, and more.” – The Polaris Project.
During the month of May, our team partnered up with BridgeNorth to help make an impact in victims’ lives. Through monetary donations and real-life experiences, we are hoping to help those individuals get back on their feet after years of living under their traffickers’ control. The financial aid will assist with expensive bills such as rent costs and medical expenses. The gift cards and tickets/passes will allow them to go out into the real world and simply live life again.
Through this relationship, our branch raised a total of $1,502.53 along with $230.00 in gift cards. We encourage everyone to check out the BridgeNorth organization to see the amazing work they do for the survivors of human trafficking.
For more information, please visit BridgeNorth’s website.
